Veganism is a way of living that attempts to exclude those products that are derived from animals preferably in all forms. It is an attempt to save the animals from become extinct and being killed for selfish causes. You might think that dairy products are exclusively elite, however, did you ever think where do they come from? People at dairy farms claim that the cattle is not injected, yet it is able to produce sufficient milk for not just the calf but, also for commercial purposes.
Coats made from animal skin are warm and may seem fashionable, but again how was the animal’s skin obtained? Was it a dead animal or was a living, breathing, perfectly healthy one killed for the sole purpose of extracting the skin?
Animals, in fact any living creature forms an integral part of our ecosystem. We can only exist if we live as a unit. We, humans, being intellectually superior to other living forms bear on our shoulders the responsibility to preserve not just ourselves, but also the rest of the ecosystem. Veganism is about showing compassion to our fellow living beings and acknowledging the role they play in the ecosystem. It is a way of respecting all creatures and maintaining the biodiversity that makes our planet evergreen.
A vegan lifestyle eliminates the usage of any kind of animal product be it milk or coats. A vegan diet raises a lot of questions, about the nutrition received from it, the prices and the flavour of the food, being the most common ones.
A vegan diet comprises of food products other than those derived from animals. What’s fascinating is that almost every food product has a vegan substitute. Animal milk can be replaced by soy milk, almond milk and other plant based milk.
Soy products are packed with proteins and so are chickpeas and lentils. Whole grains and green leafy vegetables are sources of essential fatty acids, a deficiency of which leads to impaired brain health. Where eggs and red meat form a rich source of iron, so do dry fruits and tofu. Eating vegan has several health benefits. A recent study suggests that taking a vegan diet can help prevent cancer because of the high levels of phytochemicals, including antioxidants in plant based diet.
A glowing skin, acne free and smooth texture are what most people crave. It has been shown in several studies that dairy consumption creates acne in both men and women. A vegan would eat more fruits and vegetables and eliminate dairy from their diet, resulting in a skin that glows.
Apart from all the health benefits, going vegan also helps make our environment safer and sustainable. Each piece of food we eat makes its own impact on the environment. However, some make more impact than the others. The production of meat takes a huge toll on our environment. Breeding, raising, and slaughtering requires large number of natural resources including fresh water, land, and energy, leading to pollution and production of loads of waste. The factory farming system for meat is unsustainable. Veganism or plant-based living is a sustainable way of life which does not compromise the health of the planet we live in. By making this switch we can put a stop on the rapid depletion of Earth’s resources, and slow the threat of climate change.
Each individual has their own carbon footprint. Going vegan can reduce the burden of our diet on the environment drastically. This is majorly due to the fact that processing of plant products emits 90% lesser greenhouse gases than the production process of animal products. It also reduces the energy consumption and fossil fuel emissions, which form the main source of energy.
Water is required by us all. Any process by which the water cycle is disrupted can lead to draught or flood. Meat production uses large amounts of water. If this continues it would result in intense water scarcity. Veganism protects rainforests and lands. Grazing lands for cattle are made by destroying several forests. This loss of trees destroys the balance between nature and humans. This loss of trees leads to global warming.
Ethically, consuming animals is a sad practice. We go to a zoo to look at these animals and observe their activities and in our homes, we cut them open, cook them and eat them up. There are a lot of vegan substitutes for the meat we eat. Why not try to switch our diet? Every attempt made will make our planet brighter. Each animal based palate changed to a vegan one has the ability to reduce our carbon footprint and make living on this planet sustainable.